2013 Small Business Award Nominations

2013 Small Business Awards

SBA’s Michigan District Office is now accepting nominations for its 2013 Small Business Awards. Winners will be honored at the Michigan Celebrates Small Business event on May 2, 2013. The Michigan Small Business Person of the Year will be in contention for the National Small Business Person of the Year award selected at the Small Business Week event in Washington, D.C.

Beginning now, you may submit a preliminary nomination letter to the Michigan District Office via email. Your letter should include the company’s number of employees, annual sales in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and the North American Industrial Classification code. Click here to find your NAIC code. Please address some of the evaluation criteria for the award category listed below. SBA Size Standards apply in defining a business as small. Only individuals who own and operate or bear principal responsibility for operating a small business are eligible. Click here for more information on SBA size standards.

Please email your nomination letter to june.foyt@sba.gov by November 16, 2012. If you have questions, please contact June at 313.226.6075 ext. 274. Those who advance to the final selection stage will be asked for a complete nomination packet and given information on how to apply online or via email.

AWARD CATEGORIES

Small Business Person of the Year: For developing an outstanding, growing business; innovative product(s), increasing jobs, increasing sales, overcoming adversity, and community contributions. Criteria include:

o Staying power – a substantiated history as an established business o Growth in number of employees o Increase in sales and/or unit volume o Current and past financial reports (profit and loss statements & balance sheets for the past three years.) o Innovativeness of product or service o Response to Adversity o Contributions to aid community-oriented projects

Small Business Exporter of the Year: Significantly increased export sales and profits, encouraging other firms to export, increased jobs through exports, and innovative methods of creating markets. Criteria include:

SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Owner will not reach 30th birthday by June 1, 2013, three-year evidence of success in sales and profits, increased jobs, innovative products, demonstrated potential. Criteria include:

o Evidence of success as measured by sales and profits o Increased employment opportunities o Development and utilization of innovative or creative business methods o Demonstrated entrepreneurial potential for long-term success

Jeffrey Butland Family Owned Small Business – A family owned business that has passed from one generation to another and owner has responsibility for operating the business with at least a 15 year track record. Criteria include:

o Evidence of success as measured by sales and profits. (Profit & Loss statements and balance sheets for the past three years) o Increased employment opportunities for family and non-family o Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and economic growth o Voluntary efforts to strengthen family owned businesses within the community

Veteran Owned Small Business – A business owned by a member of the military community including Veterans Service-disabled veterans, Active-Duty Service Members eligible for the military’s Transition Assistance Program, reservists and National Guard members. Criteria include:

o Evidence of success as measured by sales and profits. (Profit & Loss statements and balance sheets for the past three years) o Increased employment opportunities for members of the military community o Demonstrated potential necessary for long-term business success and economic growth o Voluntary efforts to strengthen veteran owned businesses within the community

Other Awards Given at Michigan Celebrates Small Business

In addition to the SBA awards, the Small Business Association of Michigan and the Edward Lowe Foundation, Michigan Celebrates Small Business Founders, will be honoring small business owners with awards on May 2, 2013. Please consider nominating a deserving small business for one of the following awards.

Innovation Award – the Small Business Association of Michigan is seeking nominations for their Innovation Award. Criteria include:

o The innovation must be by a Michigan company with fewer than 500 employees o product or service must have been developed by the applicant and earned revenue for the first time during the previous three years (from Nov. 2, 2009)o evidence of satisfying the market need o the advantage over similar or previous versions of this product o how the product benefits Michigan’s economy o why the product/service is unique

Michigan 50 Companies to Watch – Each year, the Edward Lowe Foundation honors the second-stage companies that make an impact in their markets, in their communities and in the state. We are seeking companies known for their marketplace performance, innovation, philanthropy and corporate culture. Criteria include: o Candidates must be privately held, commercial enterprises with the intent and capacity for further growth o Companies must employ between 6 and 99 full-time equivalent employeeso Companies much have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue (including working capital from investors or grants) in the calendar year 2011

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Michigan Small Business & Technology Development Center, U.S. Small Business Administration, the Edward Lowe Foundation, the Greater Lansing Business Monthly and the Small Business Association of Michigan joined forces to create this high visibility opportunity to celebrate entrepreneurial excellence honoring Michigan’s outstanding entrepreneurs. The eighth annual event in 2012 proved that Michigan supports small businesses with attendance over 1,000 at the awards dinner. MCSB has developed into the most prestigious small business awards program for the state of Michigan.